Virtual touchpad for a touch device

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are disclosed to provide a virtual touchpad for a touch device. A placement module places a virtual touchpad at a dynamic location within a touch sensitive area of a touch device. A touch input module positions a pointer on a screen of the touch device in response to a touch input on the virtual touchpad.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to input devices and more particularly relates to virtual input devices for a touch device.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Input devices allow users to interact with a computer system. Input devices such as computer mice, touchpads, joysticks, trackballs, and touchscreens allow users to navigate a graphical user interface (“GUI”) by translating a user's movement to a pointer or cursor on a screen. These hardware input devices, however, typically have a fixed position relative to the computer system, especially in portable devices. Hardware input devices also have fixed shapes and sizes.[0005]Because of their fixed positions, shapes, and sizes, hardware input devices are often difficult or impossible to customize. For this reason, input devices that are optimized for right-handed users can be awkward for left-handed users and vice versa. Input devices that are not optimized for right-handed users o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The embodiments of the present invention have been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available input devices. Accordingly, the embodiments have been developed to provide an apparatus, method, and computer program product to provide a virtual touchpad for a touch device that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.

Problems solved by technology

Because of their fixed positions, shapes, and sizes, hardware input devices are often difficult or impossible to customize.

For this reason, input devices that are optimized for right-handed users can be awkward for left-handed users and vice versa.

Input devices that are not optimized for right-handed users or left-handed users can be awkward for both groups.

Additionally, hardware input devices take up extra physical space on a computing device, whether or not the hardware input device is currently in use.

This can increase the size of the computing device.

An increased size can negatively influence a computing device's portability, ergonomics, convenience, and cost, especially for portable devices.

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